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Abstract

An electroosmotic mixing device and a method for mixing one or more fluids for use in meso- or microfluidic device applications. The mixing device provides batch or continuous mixing of one or more fluids in meso- or microfluidic channels. An electric field is generated in the channel in substantial contact with chargeable surfaces therein. No alterations of the geometry of existing flow paths need be made, and the degree of mixing in the device can be controlled by the length of the electrodes, the flow rate past the electrodes, and the voltage applied to those electrodes. The degree of mixing is affected by choice of materials for the chargeable surface (in some cases by the selection of materials or coatings for channel walls) and the ionic strength of the fluids and the type and concentration of ions in the fluids. The ionic strength of fluids to be mixed is sufficiently low to allow electroosmotic flow. The method and device of this invention is preferably applied to fluids to having low ionic strength less than or equal to about 1 mM.

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First Claim